Legal claims defining the scope of protection. Each claim is shown in both the original legal language and a plain English translation.
1. A method of indicating underutilized network devices that provide services in a data communications network, wherein the method is implemented in a data processing system and comprises: receiving network traffic data, wherein the network traffic data comprises: for a connection established with a device within the data communications network, (i) a source device identifier and a destination device identifier for the established connection, (ii) data identifying a service provider and a service consumer for the established connection, and (iii) traffic rate data indicating a traffic flow rate on the established connection; filtering the network traffic data to eliminate data for predefined connections; producing, from the filtered network traffic data, a graph representing a connection between a first device and a second device within the data communications network, wherein the graph includes: (i) a link and a set of nodes representing the connection between the first and second devices, and (ii) the traffic rate data for a connection that is associated with a corresponding link in the graph; analyzing the graph to identify a set of interconnected nodes that is outside the data communications network, wherein the identified set of interconnected nodes is a set of nodes that is not connected to another node that represents a device within the data communications network; and indicating an underutilized network device by producing an output dependent on traffic rate data associated with a link to the identified set of interconnected nodes that is outside the data communications network.
A method, implemented in a data processing system, identifies underutilized network devices by analyzing network traffic. The system receives network traffic data that includes source/destination device identifiers, service provider/consumer information, and traffic flow rates for each connection within the data communications network. It filters this data to remove predefined connections (e.g., routine services or broadcast traffic). A graph is created from the filtered data, representing connections between devices as links and nodes, and including the traffic rate for each connection. The system analyzes the graph to find sets of interconnected nodes outside the main network. Finally, the system indicates an underutilized network device based on the traffic rate data associated with connections to these external node sets.
2. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising: restructuring the data communications network based on the output to reduce underutilization of network devices.
The method of identifying underutilized network devices described above further includes restructuring the data communications network based on the identified underutilization. After the underutilized devices are identified and an output is produced indicating this underutilization, the network is reconfigured to reduce the identified underutilization of those devices.
3. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising: monitoring the data communications network to generate the network traffic data.
The method of identifying underutilized network devices described above further includes monitoring the data communications network to generate the network traffic data. The system continuously monitors the network to collect the data necessary for identifying underutilized devices, including source/destination device identifiers, service provider/consumer information, and traffic flow rates.
4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein: the predefined connections comprise a connection to a network device that provides a predetermined routine service to a device that is within the data communications network.
In the method of identifying underutilized network devices described above, the predefined connections that are filtered out include connections to network devices providing routine services to devices within the main data communications network. This excludes data related to standard services, so analysis focuses on potentially underutilized devices outside of normal operational traffic.
5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein: the predefined connections comprise a connection that carries broadcast traffic.
In the method of identifying underutilized network devices described above, the predefined connections that are filtered out include connections carrying broadcast traffic. This prevents broadcast traffic, which is generally high-volume but doesn't necessarily represent significant individual device utilization, from skewing the analysis.
6. The method according to claim 1 wherein: the predefined connections comprise a connection for which the service provider is outside the data communications network.
In the method of identifying underutilized network devices described above, the predefined connections that are filtered out include connections where the service provider is external to the main data communications network. This focuses the analysis on the internal network's device utilization, excluding external services that might influence the results.
7. The method according to claim 1 , wherein: producing the output is performed by comparing the traffic flow rate indicated by the traffic rate data associated with a link to the identified set of interconnected nodes that is outside the data communications network with a predetermined threshold, and wherein the output indicates underutilization of a device in the identified set of interconnected nodes if the traffic flow rate is less than the predetermined threshold.
In the method of identifying underutilized network devices described above, producing the output involves comparing the traffic flow rate to the external node set with a predetermined threshold. If the traffic flow rate is below the threshold, the output indicates underutilization of a device within that external node set. This allows for automated detection of underutilization based on predefined traffic levels.
8. The method according to claim 1 , wherein: producing the output is in response to user input indicating a connection represented by a link to a set from outside the data communications network, and wherein the output indicates an underutilized network device associated with the connection indicated by the user input.
This invention relates to network monitoring and optimization, specifically identifying underutilized network devices in response to user input. The method involves analyzing a data communications network to detect underutilized devices, which are devices operating below a defined capacity threshold. The system generates an output that highlights these underutilized devices to network administrators or users. The output is triggered by user input indicating a connection represented by a link to a set from outside the network. The output specifically identifies an underutilized network device associated with the connection indicated by the user input. This allows users to efficiently locate and potentially repurpose or optimize underutilized devices within the network. The method may involve monitoring network traffic, device performance metrics, and historical usage data to determine underutilization. The output can be displayed in a user interface or generated as a report, providing actionable insights for network management. The invention aims to improve network efficiency by identifying and addressing underutilized resources.
9. The method according to claim 1 wherein: analyzing the graph comprises performing depth first searching on the graph and marking nodes as traversed in the depth first search, wherein the marked nodes are not traversed again in the depth first search.
In the method of identifying underutilized network devices described above, analyzing the graph involves performing a depth-first search, marking visited nodes to avoid re-traversal. This ensures efficient graph traversal and avoids infinite loops while identifying interconnected node sets outside the main network.
10. The method according to claim 1 wherein: the source and destination device identifiers respectively comprise source and destination IP addresses for the established connection.
In the method of identifying underutilized network devices described above, the source and destination device identifiers used in the network traffic data are IP addresses for each established connection. The system uses IP addresses to track the source and destination of network traffic.
11. The method according to claim 1 wherein: the data identifying the service provider and the service consumer for the established connection comprises a service provider identifier and a service consumer identifier for the established connection.
In the method of identifying underutilized network devices described above, the data identifying the service provider and consumer for a connection includes a service provider identifier and a service consumer identifier. These identifiers are used to distinguish the roles of devices in the connection.
12. The method according to claim 11 , wherein: the service provider identifier and the service consumer identifier respectively comprise destination and source port numbers.
In the method of identifying underutilized network devices where connections have service provider/consumer identifiers, those identifiers are destination and source port numbers, respectively. The destination port identifies the service, and the source port identifies the client.
13. The method according to claim 8 , wherein: the user input comprises a port number for indicating the connection indicated by the user input.
In the method of identifying underutilized network devices where user input triggers the output and connections have service provider/consumer identifiers defined by port numbers, the user input includes a port number to indicate the connection of interest. The user can specify a port number to focus the analysis on a particular connection for underutilization.
14. An article of manufacture tangibly embodying computer readable non-transitory medium which, when implemented, cause a computer to carry out the steps of the method of indicating underutilized network devices that provide services in a data communications network, the method comprising: receiving network traffic data, wherein the network traffic data comprises: for a connection established with a device within the data communications network, (i) a source device identifier and a destination device identifier for the established connection, (ii) data identifying a service provider and a service consumer for the established connection, and (iii) traffic rate data indicating a traffic flow rate on the established connection; filtering the network traffic data to eliminate data for predefined connections; producing, from the filtered network traffic data, a graph representing a connection between a first device and a second device within the data communications network, wherein the graph includes: (i) a link and a set of nodes representing the connection between the first and second devices, and (ii) the traffic rate data for a connection that is associated with a corresponding link in the graph; analyzing the graph to identify a set of interconnected nodes that is outside the data communications network, wherein the identified set of interconnected nodes that is outside the network is a set of nodes that is not connected to another node that represents a device within the data communications network; and indicating an underutilized network device by producing an output dependent on traffic rate data associated with a link to the identified set of interconnected nodes that is outside the data communications network.
A non-transitory computer-readable medium stores instructions that, when executed, cause a computer to perform a method for identifying underutilized network devices. The method receives network traffic data including source/destination device identifiers, service provider/consumer information, and traffic flow rates for each connection within the network. It filters this data to remove predefined connections (e.g., routine services or broadcast traffic). A graph is created representing connections as links and nodes, with traffic rates. The graph is analyzed to find interconnected node sets outside the main network. Finally, the method indicates an underutilized device based on the traffic rate to these external node sets.
15. A data processing system for indicating underutilized network devices that provide services in a data communications network, the data processing system comprising: memory for storing network traffic data, wherein the network traffic data comprises: for a connection established with a device within the data communications network, (i) a source device identifier and a destination device identifier for the established connection, (ii) data identifying a service provider and a service consumer for the established connection, and (iii) traffic rate data indicating a traffic flow rate on the established connection, and control logic adapted to: filter the network traffic data to eliminate data for predefined connections; produce, from the filtered network traffic data, a graph representing a connection between a first device and a second device within the data communications network, wherein the graph includes: (i) a link and a set of nodes representing the connection between the first and second devices, and (ii) the traffic rate data for a connection that is associated with a corresponding link in the graph; analyze the graph to identify a set of interconnected nodes that is outside the data communications network, wherein the identified set of interconnected nodes is a set of nodes that is not connected to another node that represents a device within the data communications network; and indicate an underutilized network device by producing an output dependent on traffic rate data associated with a link to the identified set of interconnected nodes that is outside the data communications network.
A data processing system identifies underutilized network devices by analyzing network traffic. The system includes memory to store network traffic data that consists of source/destination device identifiers, service provider/consumer information, and traffic flow rates for each connection. Control logic (e.g., a processor and associated software) filters the network traffic data to eliminate predefined connections. The control logic creates a graph representing network connections and traffic rates. It analyzes the graph to identify sets of interconnected nodes outside the primary data network and indicates an underutilized device based on the traffic rate to those external node sets.
16. The method according to claim 2 , further comprising: monitoring the data communications network to generate the network traffic data.
The method of identifying underutilized network devices and restructuring the network based on underutilization, as described above, also includes monitoring the data communications network to generate the necessary network traffic data. This continuous monitoring gathers the information needed to both identify underutilized devices and later verify the effectiveness of the restructuring.
17. The method according to claim 2 , wherein: the predefined connections comprise a connection to a network device that provides a predetermined routine service to a device that is within the data communications network.
In the method of identifying underutilized network devices, restructuring the network, and monitoring traffic, the predefined connections that are filtered out include connections to network devices providing routine services to devices within the main data communications network. This avoids routine service traffic from skewing the underutilization analysis and subsequent restructuring decisions.
18. The method according to claim 2 , wherein: the predefined connections comprise a connection that carries broadcast traffic.
In the method of identifying underutilized network devices, restructuring the network, and monitoring traffic, the predefined connections that are filtered out include connections carrying broadcast traffic. This prevents broadcast traffic from influencing the underutilization analysis and network restructuring efforts.
19. The method according to claim 2 , wherein: the predefined connections comprise a connection for which the service provider is outside the data communications network.
In the method of identifying underutilized network devices, restructuring the network, and monitoring traffic, the predefined connections that are filtered out include connections where the service provider is external to the main data communications network. This ensures that the underutilization analysis and any resulting network restructuring are focused on internal devices and traffic patterns.
20. The method as claimed in claim 12 , wherein: the user input comprises a port number for indicating the connection indicated by the user input.
In the method of identifying underutilized network devices, where user input triggers the output and connections have service provider/consumer identifiers defined by port numbers, and the user input includes a port number to indicate the connection of interest, the system identifies underutilized network devices, and the user input is specified as destination and source port numbers respectively.
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August 5, 2014
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